Apparatus for reshaping and restoring shells.



No. 871,748. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

. w. T. ALSOP.

APPARATUS FOR RBSHAPI AND RESTORING SHELLS.

APPLICATION IIL UNE 13, 190B.

\ THE NDRRIS PETERS co, smsnmawu, v, c

anion WILLIAM T. ALSOP, OF OWENSBOBO, KENTUCKY.

APPARATUS FOR RESHAPING AND RESTORING SHELLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Original application filed December 18. 1905. Serial No. 292.339. Divided and this application filed June 13, 1906- Serial No. 321,584.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, lvlLLlAM T. ALsoP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owensboro, in the county of Daviess and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Heshaping and Restoring Shells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for reshaping and restoring cartridge shells used in sportsmens guns or the like; and the primary object of the same is to provide a simple and effective means for expeditiously reshaping a shell after it has been used and distributing or rectifying an irregularity of saturation of the paratlin or other stiffening substance ordinarily employed in shells of this type, and which frequently becomes displaced when the charge from the shell is fired.

The shaper involves essentially a suitable thin or sheet metal base, from which a plurality of thin metal tubes projects vertically, the tubes being uniform in height and preferably having upper inwardly beveled extremities for convenience in application of empty shells thereover. After the shaper has had the shells applied thereto, it is subjected to heat of suliicient degree to cause the paraffin in the paper body of the shell to become regularly distributed throughout such body and to overcome any displacement that may have ensued by discharging the load from the shell or crimping the same.

This invention particularly refers to sub ject-matter divided out of my copending application 292,399, filed December 18, 1905.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shaper embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section through a portion of the shaper showing the preferred means of attaching the tubular members to the base.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several Views.

The numeral 1 designates a thin or sheet metal base, havin slots or openings 2 formed therein at interva s. Disposed on this base is a plurality of tubular shell supports 3, preferably formed of thin sheet steel or tubing and provided with bendable projections 4 at their lower ends, which are inserted through the slots or openings 2 and upset against the underside of the base 1. The upper extremities of the supports 3. are inwardly beveled, as at 5, to facilitate the application of shell bodies thereover. All of the supports 3 are of the same height, or have the same vertical extent; and they are spaced such distances as to render the application and removal of shells with respect thereto expeditious and convenient.

After the shells to be reshaped are arranged on the supports 3, the device bearing the shells is subjected to heat by placing it in an oven, or it may be heated by'other means. After subjecting the shells to the action of heat for a suitable length of time, which will be determined by practice, the shaper is removed from adjacency to the heating means with the shells thereon, and the shells ermitted to cool and harden, and after coo ing the shells are removed and will be ready for repreparation or recharging by the usual methods. One of the great advantages of the shaper is that shells, as now commonly constructed, have a difference in depth, and particularly those shells where dense smokeless powder and bulk smokeless powder are used. This difference in shell construction can be readily determined with convenience in separating all the shells of one kind from the supports, in view of the fact that when two kinds of shells, for instance, are applied to the supports they will have a variation in vertical extent. The size of the base 1 will depend upon the number of supports 3 adapted to be used therewith or secured thereto. In some instances it may be necessary to resupply the shell bodies with paraffin or other stiffening substance to prolong the use of the shells or to render them further serviceable after continued use. This can be readily done by dipping the open ends of the shells in melted paraffin or other stiff.- ening substance previous to applying the said shells to the supports, and the heating operation, carried on after the shells are applied to the supports, as hereinbefore set forth, will facilitate the spread of the paraffin or other substance over the bodies of the shells.

It will be understood that the upper reduced extremities of the supports 3 facilitate the application of the open ends ,of the shell bodies thereto Without mutilating the edges of the bodies.

Havin thus fully described the invention, What is claimed as new, is

A reshaping and restoring device of the class specified, consistin of a metal base and a plurality of cylindrical tubular metal sup ports of equal length projecting from said base and provided with upper conoidal re- 10 duced terminals.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM T. ALSOP. Witnesses:

CnAs. S. HYER, ROBERT EVERETT. 

